Rim contracting and expanding tool



Jan. 26 1926 T. O. MOREL RIM CONTRACTING AND EXPANDING T061.

Filed Jan. 26. 1924 Patented Jan. 26, 1926'.

warren earsar RIM CONTRACTING AND EXPANDING TOOL.

Application filed January 26, 1324.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Trinononn OSCAR Moi-mil, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Tutaki, Murchison, in the Dominion of New Zealand, have invented a new and useful Rim Contracting and EX- panding Tool, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved tool for use in contra'icting and expanding the removable rims of motor car and like wheels, of that class in which the rim is made with a break in it to permit of the two ends being overlapped to reduce the diameter, and expanded to make a complete circle. Considerable diiiiculty is experienced in collapsing these rims to the necessary extent to free the tyre placed thereon, and also in again expanding the rim within the tyre so that it may grip the tyre in the required manner.

The tool devised provides for these operations being carried out with a minimum of trouble and within a minimum of time, and also for the rim being collapsed to any required extent to ensure of the tyre being removed therefrom with ease. The tool also provides for the rim when being extended to its full diameter, having its ends thrust apart and then caused to engage with the usual locking engagement in a positive manner.

The tool forming this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel rim showing the tool fitted thereon for operation, the full lines indicating the expanded position and the dotted lines the contracted position.

Figure 2 is a. plan of the tool, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, and

Figure 4 an end elevation thereof.

The tool comprises a pair of grips AA of approved nature such that they may be caused to engage the rim B on the inside and effectually clamp themselves thereto, and which grips in the operation of the tool are adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the split B in the rim, and at approved distances away from such split. Combined with each of these grips is a link G that is pivoted upon the inside of the grip in such a manner that it may turn within the space enclosed by the rim B, and

Serial No. 688,737.

in a plane corresponding to the line of the rims diameter. The inner end of each of these links C is then pivoted to a lever D, the two links being pivoted at points a distance apart thereon, upon one end thereof. This lever is also adapted to turn in the same plane, and by reason of the pivotal attachment of the links C thereto, will when turned in one direction, draw the outer ends of the respective links C inward, and when turned in the other direction, will force them outward from each other, the grips AA being moved correspondingly. The said lever is made of any approved length such as will fit within the rim B, and at the same time will provide the necessary leverage action for the operation of the device.

In the operation of the device, the grips A-A are connected to the rim B respectively on opposite sides of the split B, with the lever D turned in such. a manner as to extend them, as shown by the full lines in Figure 1. The lever is then turned in the opposite direction to draw the links in together so that, the joint in the rim having previously been broken in the usual way, the two ends will be caused to overlap and to be drawn inwards over one another for the necessary amount to contract the diameter of the rim, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1. To expand the rim, a reverse movement of the lever is effected. The inner end of one of the links C is shaped so that it projects beyond its pivot joint of attachment to the lever in the form of a cam C that bears outwards against the inner surface of the rim as the appliance is used for expanding the rim, and this, pressing on such surface, will cause the inner overlapping edge to be pressed outward to engage the other edge when the rim has been expanded to the necessary extent, and thereby cause the usual. locking lugs to come into proper position.

Each grip A is made in the special man ner shown in the drawings so that it may be contracted upon the rim edges, or expanded to free them and also so that the width between its jaws may be adjusted to adapt the grip to varying widths of wheel rims. It is formed by two narrow plate jaws EE arranged face to face in parallel lines, the outer end of each of which is curved as at 6 so that it may fit over the beaded edge of the rim on which the grip is to be placed. The width between the jaws is obtained by means of a double ended bolt F passing through their respective inner ends and having adjusting nuts "crewed thereon. A second bolt G passes ihrough the two jaws at a distance in from their gripping ends and this bolt has a wing nut H screwed thereon. The link C for that grip has its outer end swivelled on this bolt by being curved loosely around it, :md a helical spring J is placed around the bolt between each side of the link and the jaw on that side. These springs are in compression, so that they act to distend the jaws to the limit allowed by the adjusting iuts f, such nuts being adjusted to permit of a certain amount of movement in the outer ends of the jaws.

Consequently when the jaws are. opened, he grip may be arranged in the desired poition upon the rim B and the jaws then caused to close upon and grip the rim by screwing up the wing nut H. hen this nut is loosened, the springs J will force he jaws apart again so that the grip may 'ie readily removed from the rim.

Provision is made for holding the appliance in the position at which the rim is contracted, the means for this purpose. consisting in a chain K, shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, one end of which is attached to the lever D, and a hook M swivelled on the bolt F of the grip towards which the lever is moved when contracting the rim. This hook is adapted to be en gaged by the appropriate link of the chain when the lever has been moved across for the required distance so that the chain then holds the lever from turning back. Or, the hook itself may be made to engage the lever when it has been moved across far enough.

The form of each link C may vary to suit any particular circumstances. In the drawings it is shown as being made up of two side by side members or bars. These if required, may be bent outwards from each other, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2, in order to permit of the link passing over the inflation valve of the tyre upon the rim, should such be positioned close to the break in the rim.

I claim A rim contracting and expanding tool, comprising, in combination, an operating lever, a pair of links pivoted to said lever to extend in opposite directions therefrom, and a grip pivoted to each link; each grip embodying a pair of substantially parallel jaws, a double-ended bolt passing through said jaws near the inner end thereof and provided at each end with a pair of nuts engaging the opposite faces of the corresponding jaw to enable the distance between the jaws to be adjusted, a second bolt passing loosely through both jaws near the outer end thereof and to which the outer end of the adjacent link is pivoted, said second bolt having a head at one. end to engage the adjacent jaw, a pair of expansible springs encircling the second bolt and interposed between the said link end and the jaws to force said jaws apart, and a thumb nut threaded on the other end of said second bolt to move the corresponding jaw inward against the action of the adjacent spring.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

THEODORE OSCAR MOREL, 

